On your left side
Thor isn’t the only major actor who will be back as his universally beloved Marvel hero, as Chris Evans is also returning to play Steve Rogers.
There are questions about his role in the story, mind you – first of all, which universe he ended up in Avengers: Endgame. If this is the dimension that The Fantastic Four (and, by proxy, Doom) come from, is Rogers’ decision to stay in this universe the main reason Doom’s family dies?
Also, how and why does Rogers return to the familiar trenches to fight Doom? Sure, he’ll always do the right thing and protect those he cares about — which, based on the aforementioned Rogers-starring teaser, now includes his young son.
Nevertheless, how does he learn about the sinister plan that Doom has made? Does he travel back to the MCU’s primary universe at the behest of the Fantastic Four? If so, how and when do they find out he’s secretly living life in a dimension he shouldn’t be a part of?
I actually think there is a very specific person who can help answer these questions – and you may now know him as the God of Time and/or Stories…
A godly presence
I’ll get back to Doom later, so let’s focus on some of the other returning—not to mention popular—heroes we’ll see in Avengers 5starting with the Thunder God himself.
It’s actually a strange move on Marvel’s part to put Thor at the center of this latest trailer. After all, Thor got his own mini Doomsday teaser last December, so you might have thought that MCU heroes not featured in said teasers, such as The Fantastic Four, would have made more of an appearance here. Clearly, that is not the case.
Why is Thor so seemingly positioned as Doomsday’s co-leader? Well, Chris Hemsworth is not only still one of Marvel’s most bankable stars, but one of the few left right from the start of Marvel’s cinematic juggernaut. Placing an instantly recognizable face at the heart of this film, then, is a way to get more butts on the seats.
Of course, there is more to it than that. Thor seems to take on more of a leadership role in Doomsday than previously Avengers movies, which is evident by him playing the brutally honest negotiator-in-chief trying to get the MCU’s various factions to work together to fight this incredibly powerful new threat in Downey Jr’s Doom. Add in the fact that his brother Loki will surely have an integral role in the proceedings (more on this soon), Thor’s clear concern that Doom is someone Earth’s Mightiest Heroes should fear even more than Thanos, and his desire to protect adopted daughter Love, and Thor’s position as a prominent figure in Doomsday is not as outlandish as it first appears.
Down(ey) for a new MCU role
Okay, let’s start with what is obviously the biggest reveal of the entire trailer: Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Victor von Doom.
The Multiverse Saga’s new primary villain, the big reveal of Downey Jr’s second MCU character – the first, of course, being his iconic portrayal of Tony Stark/Iron Man – has been a long time coming.
Based on the brief glimpses we get of him in this latest round of footage, it was worth the wait though, because hoo boy, he not only looks very menacing, but also incredibly powerful. Hey, you don’t stop an attack from Thor, aka the so-called strongest Avenger, and Stormbreaker with two fingers if you’re not!
So what’s his deal? Based on what we can read in the teaser poster in this blog’s previous post, the prevailing theory is that Doom is seeking revenge for something – or someone – that led to the death of his loved ones. And given that Marvel’s recent saga has centered around the multiverse, it’s possible their demise was the result of some universe-hopping or time-traveling shenanigans.
Are the events of Avengers: Endgameand/or other MCU multiverse projects, such as Loki, Doctor Strange 2and Deadpool and Wolverinethe blame? We have to wait Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters worldwide on December 18 to find out. Either way, expect Doom’s crusade to be based around the loss of his family — and if other rumors are to be believed, he’ll take advantage of the multiverse’s potential collapse due to the Incursions and potentially bring said family back from the dead.
Doom and gloom
December 18 is judgment day. Experience Avengers: Doomsday on bigger, brighter and more immersive screens. Tickets are now on sale exclusively for Infinity Vision certified theaters: pic.twitter.com/xaSgW5rp1J20 July 2026
Everyone else got a spring in their step from Doomsdayfirst proper trailer? The new work week has literally just started for many of us, so its arrival has certainly lifted the gloom.
Anyway, as I prepare to sift through the teaser for everything important, check out the first official poster for the upcoming comic book movie. It shows Robert Downey Jr’s Victor von Doom climbing some steps and approaching a mural of what I assume are his wife and son – who, based on the fact that there is a stone carved monument above them, are no longer alive…
Oh my god, it’s happening!
Well, who expected this? Nobody, that’s who!
Many, if not all, of us, although Marvel would withhold the release of Avengers: Doomsday‘s first official trailer until its upcoming Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026, which takes place on Saturday, July 25. But look, the comics titan has surprised us all and revealed it today (Monday, July 20).
As I said at the top, there’s a lot to unpack from the film’s latest teaser. Join me, then, over the next few hours as I comb through it with a fine-toothed comb and pick out all the Easter eggs, references, and other bits you might have missed on first viewing. Excelsior!
